Management of vasodilatory shock after cardiac surgery: identification of predisposing factors and use of a novel pressor agent.

1Departments of Surgery and Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, USA.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Cardiopulmonary bypass can be associated with vasodilatory hypotension requiring pressor support. We have previously found arginine vasopressin to be a remarkably effective pressor in a variety of vasodilatory shock states. We investigated the incidence and clinical predictors of vasodilatory shock in a general population of cardiac surgical patients and the effects of low-dose arginine vasopressin as treatment of this syndrome in patients with heart failure.